WASHINGTON (January 17, 2017)–-Today, the U.S. Department of State delivered $500 million to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), its second payment towards fulfilling its $3 billion pledge to the fund, made in November 2014. So far, 43 countries, including 9 developing countries, have pledged a total of $10.3 billion to the GCF. Since beginning operations in 2015, the Green Climate Fund has approved $1.5 billion in funding to 35 projects.

Following is a statement from Joe Thwaites, Associate, World Resources Institute:

“We welcome this $500 million contribution to the Green Climate Fund. It will support sustainable development in poor and vulnerable countries, increasing their ability to withstand extreme weather events and expanding clean energy access. Recent GCF funding has gone to Pacific islands to help them deploy renewable energy, to Uganda and Sri Lanka to cope with drought, and to Rwanda and Kenya to roll out household solar energy.

“The Green Climate Fund supports US economic and security interests. It can promote growth in countries that support American exports and jobs, and helps stabilize fragile communities and regions, preventing threats to US security and avoiding the need for costlier interventions in the future.

“The US has now delivered one-third of its $3 billion pledge to the GCF. We call on Congress to fulfill the remainder of the pledge in the coming years.”